DURHAM, N.C.— Duke Women’s Basketball, in partnership with The Jed Foundation (JED) and Duke University CAPS, is excited to host the first “Mental Wealth Day” for mental health awareness. The event will take place Sunday, Jan. 27 as the Blue Devils host nationally ranked Syracuse at 1 p.m., in Cameron Indoor Stadium.
“It has been a creation of ours at Duke with a variety of people – myself, Shawn Zeplin and Dr. Danielle Oakley,” said Duke head coach Joanne P. McCallie. “It has been a complete team effort of trying to bring awareness to something that is obviously affected so many lives, families and programs athletically. We want to try to talk about mental wealth as something special to take care of your mind, body and spirit. We need to recognize that impaired mental health is where the troubles come. The more people that are educated about that the better off everyone will be in terms of reducing stigmas and filling them with education.”
Along with the highly competitive game, “Mental Wealth Day” will feature workshops on relevant mental health topics including a mindfulness training and sharing real life stories of current and former athletes, including former collegiate and WNBA legend and JED Ambassador, Chamique Holdsclaw. Holdsclaw will participate as the pre-game keynote speaker, discussing her personal experience with mental health and her advocacy for JED.
“It is the first of its kind to my knowledge for any women’s basketball game,” commented McCallie. “I don’t know about men basketball. But I know I have been coaching for 27 years and I have been to a funeral and different things in my experience that will lead you to want to make a difference beyond the court. It is consistent with having Kay Yow and Melanoma games. It just seemed to fit right in. Pulling CAPS into the athletic department and having everything come together — it is a great thing.”
Holdsclaw, a three-time NCAA Champion with the Tennessee women’s basketball program, featured a stellar collegiate career before being selected as the No. 1 selection in the 1999 WNBA Draft by the Washington Mystics. After earning the WNBA Rookie of the Year in her first professional season, Holdsclaw went on to earn six WNBA All-Star appearances and won the gold medal at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney with the United States.
“For many of our nation’s teens and young adults, transitioning into adulthood is a time of significant changes and intense challenges,” said John MacPhee, Executive Director and CEO of JED. “One in five young people is living with a mental health condition, and many are not receiving care. Events like this raise awareness about this important topic and let young people know they’re not alone and that help and support are available. We’re honored to partner with Duke and the NBA on this exciting event to raise awareness about mental health among athletes and all young adults.”
During the game, a number of videos and public service announcements from Seize The Awkward and NBA Cares Mind Health will be played. Seize The Awkward, a campaign by JED, Ad Council and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), encourages teens and young adults to “seize the awkward” by reaching out to a friend who may be struggling with mental health issues. NBA Cares Mind Health initiative, developed in collaboration with JED, features NBA players Kevin Love and DeMar DeRozan sharing their personal mental health stories.
“Mental health is a better predictor of academic success than ACT or SAT scores,” said Duke University CAPS Director Dr. Danielle Oakley. “Let’s invest in student success by focusing on well-being.”
Event Schedule
• Pre-game
o 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 a.m. – Mental Wealth Discussion with Chamique Holdsclaw
o 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 a.m. – Yoga Workshop
o 12:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. – Relaxation Zone available
– Free Massage Station
– Kindess Stone Making
– Changing Their Activity
– & More!
o 1:00 p.m. – Duke Women’s Basketball vs Syracuse tips off
o Halftime of the game – TBD
About Duke University CAPS
The Duke University CAPS Program helps Duke Students enhance strengths and develop abilities to successfully live, grow, and learn in their personal and academic lives. They offer many services to Duke undergraduate, graduate, and professional students, including brief individual and couples counseling, group counseling, psychiatric services, and referral services. CAPS staff also engage with students, faculty, staff, parents, and alumni, focusing on those who experience marginalization. Learn More
JED is a nonprofit that protects emotional health and prevents suicide for our nation’s teens and young adults. We’re partnering with high schools and colleges to strengthen their mental health, substance misuse, and suicide prevention programs and systems. We’re equipping teens and young adults with the skills and knowledge to help themselves and each other. We’re encouraging community awareness, understanding, and action for young adult mental health.
Learn more at jedfoundation.org. Check out our programs including: JED Campus (jedcampus.org), Set to Go, ULifeline (ulifeline.org), Half of Us (halfofus.com), Love is Louder (loveislouder.com), and Seize the Awkward (seizetheawkward.org).
Connect with JED: Email | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn
Manuela McDonough
Director, Media Relations
202-812-5290
manuela@jedfoundation.org
If you or someone you know needs to talk to someone right now, text, call, or chat 988 for a free confidential conversation with a trained counselor 24/7.
You can also contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741-741.
If this is a medical emergency or if there is immediate danger of harm, call 911 and explain that you need support for a mental health crisis.
